Austria

Restaurants in Vienna

Austria's cuisine is a rich stew of historic, international
influences. Many local chefs combine traditional Viennese dishes
with the principles of nouvelle cuisine, creating Neue Wiener
Küche (New Viennese cuisine). Vienna is well known for its
pastries, and other famous dishes include Wiener Schnitzel, Gulasch
and Tafelspitz (boiled beef with apple and horseradish
sauce). The best desserts to try are Sachertorte cake and
Apfelstrudel (apple strudel). Don't be surprised if you are
offered a shot of Schnapps after a meal! Lunch is traditionally the
biggest meal of the day for Austrians, but this has changed over
the years, and most working people now eat their most important
meal in the evening.

Vienna's bar and restaurant scene is currently booming, and
great eateries for all budgets can be found. The best districts for
eating out in Vienna include the Museum Quarter, which is full of
outdoor cafes and some of the city's most renowned restaurants; the
Spittelberg district, which boasts many bars and restaurants, as
well as some interesting shops; the Naschmarkt and trendy Freihaus
district, which are wonderful after dark; and the area around
Gumpendorter Strasse, which is a new hotspot for popular
restaurants.

$$$$$ | Local

Hietzinger Bräu

This award-winning restaurant stays true to its traditional
values and is somewhat of an institution when it comes to Viennese
steak restaurants. The tasteful décor and impeccable cuisine
ensure that this eatery stays within the top ranks of Vienna's
dining scene. The Tafelspitz (boiled beef) is without a
doubt the most famous choice of beef and is the flagship dish of
this restaurant. The beef is served in the traditional manner - in
beef soup, with apple and horseradish, roast potatoes and chive
sauce. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Reservations
recommended.

Café Central

Café Central is probably one of the most famous cafes in
the world due to its high profile clientele during the history of
Vienna, which included famous artists, writers and intellectuals
such as Lenin and Trotsky. The grand, cathedral-like setting with
its marble pillared hall and soaring ceiling is a fine setting for
the excellent coffee and Apfelstrudel that they serve up, along
with an assortment of other desserts and pastries for tea. Light
lunches are served and the menu includes a variety of provincial
dishes and Viennese specialties as well as salads, soups,
sandwiches and vegetarian dishes. Piano music plays daily from 5pm.
Open daily from 10am.

Wiener Rathauskeller

The venue may be Gothic, sunk into the cellars beneath the
historic town hall, but the style, atmosphere and cuisine are very
up to date. This spacious eatery features various rooms furnished
in different styles and can handle up to 1,100 people. The food can
be described as 'modern Viennese', offering fare such as goulash,
Wiener Schnitzel and apple strudel. Open daily for lunch and
dinner.

Café Demel

Arguably the best of Vienna's 300-odd traditional coffee shops,
offering their legendary confections and pastries, is the
Café Demel. The café is best known for its original
Sachertorte (chocolate frosted cream cake), but the rest of the
range of sweet delights on offer is just as delectable. Demel also
serves a large range of sandwiches and, of course, really good
coffee. Open daily from 10am to 7pm. Vienna's other renowned coffee
shop is Café Central near the Hofburg Palace, where Lenin
and Totsky once met regularly.

Restaurant Imperial

The warm, cosy and classic style of the Restaurant Imperial
lends itself perfectly to a stylish dining affair. The décor
is tasteful and evokes a feeling of old-world charm while chef Hans
Juergen Schauer creates delectable dishes such as fillet of turbot
with goose liver and fillet of veal, or the old favourite, Wiener
Schnitzel. Open daily for dinner. Reservations essential.

Motto

This funky restaurant is stylish to the extreme, with quirky red
and black decor and an eclectic menu that ranges from sushi to
spaghetti. The restaurant expands in the summer with tables set up
in the attractive garden. Motto has a reputation as a gay-friendly
restaurant, and is open late into the night, closing at 4am.

Wollzeile

When in Vienna do as the Viennese do and indulge in Wiener
Schnitzel, the delicacy most associated with the romantic city.
Reputed to serve the biggest and best schnitzel is Wollzeile, next
door to St Stephen's Cathedral, a wine tavern where the long tables
are always packed with hungry customers sampling the golden-brown
schnitzels, that overhang the plate. Open daily for lunch and
dinner. Wollzeile is closed during August.

Steirereck

Meaning 'corner of Styria' (a state in southeast Austria),
Steirereck is one of Austria's top restaurants, featuring seasonal
Austrian cuisine with a Styrian emphasis. The menu is small and
changes regularly according to the freshest ingredients available,
but everything is superbly prepared. Meals begin with freshly baked
bread, and close with a selection of more than 60 cheeses from the
restaurant's own cellar. Seasonal offerings might include
gooseliver Steirereck, Styrian roast beef, lobster, lamb with
crepes, rabbit with risotto or smoked monkfish. Dress is smart and
reservations are recommended. Open Monday to Friday.

DO & CO

Located on the seventh floor of the Haas Haus, Do & Co is
the flagship restaurant of Do & Co International Hotel and
offers the best views in town, situated opposite St Stephan's
Cathedral. The cuisine is international, featuring mainly modern
Viennese and Asian fare, but the extensive menu also covers South
America and wider Europe. The menu covers 'Tastes of the World',
'Beef & Co', 'Kebab, Wok and Curries', 'Catch of the Day',
'Austrian Classics', and different kinds of sushi. Reservations are
highly recommended, and dress is smart. Open daily from 12pm.

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